In the context of Hajj, both "Maqām Ibrāhīm" (the Station of Abraham) and "al-Ḥajaru al-Aswad" (the Black Stone) hold significant importance, but they serve different purposes and are mentioned differently in Islamic scripture.
- Maqām Ibrāhīm (the Station of Abraham): It refers to the stone on which Prophet Abraham (Ibrāhīm) stood while constructing the Kaaba. According to Islamic tradition, when Prophet Abraham and his son Prophet Ishmael (Ismā'īl) were building the Kaaba as a place of worship, Allah commanded them to raise the foundations of the Kaaba and designated the "Maqām Ibrāhīm" as the place for people to pray. The Quran mentions the Maqām Ibrāhīm in Surah Al-Baqarah (2:125) where Allah says:
"And [mention] when We made the House a place of return for the people and [a place of] security. And take, [O believers], from the standing place of Abraham a place of prayer. And We charged Abraham and Ishmael, [saying], 'Purify My House for those who perform Tawaf and those who are staying [there] for worship and those who bow and prostrate [in prayer].'"
So, the Maqām Ibrāhīm is associated with the act of prayer and is an essential part of the Hajj pilgrimage, as it is one of the points where pilgrims perform prayers during the Tawaf.
- Al-Ḥajaru al-Aswad (the Black Stone): It is a black stone that is embedded in the eastern corner of the Kaaba. Islamic tradition holds that this stone was brought down from heaven and was initially whiter than milk but turned black due to the sins of humanity. It is an important and revered stone in Islam, and during the Tawaf, pilgrims try to touch or kiss it as a symbolic gesture of following the tradition of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him).
The reason why the Maqām Ibrāhīm is explicitly mentioned in the Quran while the al-Ḥajaru al-Aswad is not directly mentioned is not explicitly stated in Islamic scripture. However, scholars suggest that the Quran emphasizes the Maqām Ibrāhīm because it symbolizes the act of prayer and the link to the Abrahamic tradition. It highlights the significance of Prophet Abraham and his role in establishing the Kaaba as a place of worship for monotheism.
On the other hand, the Black Stone, although not mentioned explicitly in the Quran, is deeply revered and significant due to its association with the construction of the Kaaba and the tradition of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). Its importance is well established in the Hadith (sayings and actions of the Prophet), and it is an integral part of the Hajj rituals.
In summary, both the Maqām Ibrāhīm and the al-Ḥajaru al-Aswad are important in the context of Hajj and Islamic tradition. The Maqām Ibrāhīm is specifically mentioned in the Quran due to its connection to prayer and the Abrahamic tradition, while the al-Ḥajaru al-Aswad holds